Andrew Mayne: The man who invented a shark suit that makes him invisible to sharks

Good news for shark enthusiasts.

Starting last Monday, July 29, until Aug. 4, Discovery Channel has been airing Shark Week featuring mind-blowing stories and innovative research technology to reveal compelling insights on some of the most unique shark species in the world. The show celebrates its 31 years of all things sharks ­— Great Whites feasting on seals, secret hunting grounds, tiger sharks gatherings, the creation of a shark suit, the story of the Megalodon with bigger and more adrenaline-pumping shark adventures.

Along with Shark Week, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific (DNAP) is rolling out #WorldIsOurs campaign which champions conservation and preservation by celebrating the beauty of life in all forms. By partnering with change-makers, conservationists and social entrepreneurs, Discovery hopes to drive the message of sustainable living across Asia, and how everyone can make a difference in their own way.

Said Anna Oposa, co-founder of Save Philippine Seas, “One way to help sharks is to reduce our use of plastics and disposables. In the Philippines, we recently had a case of a dead whale shark with 40 kilograms of plastics and sacks found in its stomach. The world is ours and every positive act can make waves of changes.”

The STAR recently did an exclusive e-mail interview with Andrew Mayne, the master illusionist, author and inventor who talks about how he created the first-of-its-kind shark suit to overcome the senses of a great white shark and make him invisible to the world’s most perfect predator.

When and how did you get interested in sharks?

“I’ve been fascinated with sharks since I was a child. I’ve always lived near the water, so sharks were constantly on my mind.”

I wonder, if you saw Jaws, how old were you then and what was your reaction to it?

 “I was probably 10 years old or so. Just hearing about the movie was enough to make me afraid of sharks. It’s one of my favorite movies to this day.”

Have you ever been near a shark and how did it feel?

“I’ve been near a few different sharks. The very first time I opened up my eyes underwater when I was learning to scuba dive as a kid was the sight of a nurse shark about 20 feet away. I kept asking the dive master beforehand if we’d see any sharks, and he was like ‘No, you won’t.’ Guess what, I’m a second underwater and the first thing I see is a shark. The same thing happened in Australia.

“As far as how I felt, as scared as I can get, I’ve always felt calm around them...mainly because I can see these sharks. The ones I don’t see freak me out.”

How did you come up with the concept of a shark suit?

“I was looking at ways to make it easier for researchers to get close to sharks and observe them without disturbing them. I have a background in magic and illusion design and wondered what of that, if anything, crossed over to an entirely different species that has much more adept senses than I do.”

How could it make the wearer invisible (have you tried it)?

“Think of the suit as an underwater stealth suit that tries to make you less detectable. I used some of the same techniques we use in aerospace from materials that made less noise to surfaces that bent light around me.

“Did I try it? Yes. In the middle of over a dozen great white sharks with no cage.”

You’ve been with sharks, so how well do you know them?

“Not well enough. They’re amazing creatures. I’ve been lucky enough to benefit from the experience of people like Dr. Neil Hammerschlag and Andy Casagrande to help learn about them, but this is all very new to me.” (Mayne teams up with underwater cameraman Andy Casagrande and Dr. Neil Hammerschlag on a global quest to uncover the power of the great white’s predation senses, all to prepare him for the ultimate test ­— putting himself in the middle of a great white frenzy in Australia.)

Sharks may become endangered species, what are your suggestions to protect these sea predators from human predators?

“Some sharks are more threatened than others and certain fishing practices are devastating. I think an important step is for us to understand how important they are to our ecosystem and to understand that they were on this planet before us and we want to make sure that they’ll still be here when we go off to explore new worlds and leave the oceans to them.”

A rejoinder on Gloria Diaz

The Miss Universe golden-anniversary dinner was hosted by Gloria Diaz’s long-time partner Michael de Jesus (leftmost). Others in photo are, from left, Aces & Queens’ Cesar Evangelista, Jimmy Estopace, Jeffrey Jeturian, Gerry Diaz and Wendell Capili

Last July 15, Aces & Queens Council of Advisers arranged a dinner with 1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz through film director Jeffrey Jeturian to celebrate Gloria’s 50th anniversary as Miss Universe. The dinner was held at Jasmine Restaurant of the New World Hotel. Aside from Jeffrey, present were Gerry Diaz, Cesar Evangelista, Jose Wendell Capili, Jimmy Estopace and Gloria’s long-time partner, banker Michael de Jesus, who offered to host the dinner.

Gloria was discovered by Rene Factora while she was walking in a procession. Gloria shared that she got to visit Rene at the Makati Medical Center (MMC) a few days before he passed away.

At the Miss Universe pageant in Miami Beach Florida, Gloria was chosen among the Ten Best in Swimsuit which was announced a few days before the finals. Included in the list was Miss Austria Eva Rueber-Staier who made it only to the semifinals but later in the year was crowned Miss World 1969.

With the countless Binibinis crowned since she became Miss Universe, Gloria could no longer recall their names. During one of her tapings, she was approached for a selfie by a beautiful lady.

Gloria: You should join a beauty contest.

Lady: I already did.

Gloria: Did you win?

Lady: Yes, I did.

Gloria: Did you compete internationally?

Lady: Yes.

Gloria: What contest?

Lady: Miss International.

The lady was Kylie Verzosa, 2016 Miss International.

After the dinner, Gerry and his team gifted Gloria with a Bidi Bidi Bag created by Bernadette de los Santos of Baao, Camarines Sur, from bangkuan grass and embellished with crocheted raffia flowers. And then they surprised her with a bouquet specially created for Gloria, made of pink Ecuadorian roses, burgundy mini calla lillies and dark blue vanda orchids.

(For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)